Vehicle roof

ABSTRACT

Described is a vehicle roof for a passenger car or the like with a roof panel ( 1 ), whose longitudinal edges ( 2 ) can each be fastened to a frame side rail ( 3 ) of the roof frame of the vehicle body. On this vehicle roof it is provided according to invention, that the roof panel ( 1 ), on the longitudinal edge of each side, carries a leg ( 4 ) of an angle sheet ( 5 ) in a permanent fitting arrangement for additional support and for a fastening arrangement onto the frame side rails ( 3 ) of the roof frame and that its respective other leg ( 6 ) can be fastened to one of the frame side rails ( 3 ).

[0001] Described is a vehicle roof for a passenger car such aslimousine, station wagon, van, or minibus with a roof panel, whoselongitudinal edges can each be fastened to a frame side rail of thevehicle body's roof frame.

[0002] When constructing a vehicle body, weld joints are conventionallyprovided between the vehicle roof and roof frame. Such weld joints arecurrently being replaced with glued joints to a growing extent. Thisinvolves certain difficulties, such as when the adhesive bond issubjected to vibrations while the adhesive being used is hardening,which will prevent the body from being moved on the assembly if longhardening and assembly times are used.

[0003] It is the objective of the present invention to simplify thefastening of a vehicle roof to the frame side rails of a roof frame,thereby stiffening the roof panel, and to take care at minimum expensethat the roof panel will already be tightly bonded to the frame siderails of the roof frame after gluing while the adhesive used is still inits hardening phase.

[0004] To solve this task it is provided according to invention that theroof panel, on the longitudinal edge of each side, carries a leg of atleast one angle sheet in a permanent fitting arrangement for additionalsupport and for a fastening arrangement onto the frame side rails of theroof frame and that its respective other leg can be fastened to one ofthe frame side rails, at least in the region of the A, B, C, and Dpillar, whereby the longitudinal edge regions of the roof paneldemonstrate openings, which are closeable by means of stoppers and thelike and which also pass through the legs of the angle sheets abuttingthe roof panel and which serve for inserting the fastening bolts of roofrails, roof load crossmembers or the like, whereby threaded inserts,weld nuts or insert nuts for the screwed fastening bolts are arranged inthe region of the openings of the legs of the angle sheets that abut theroof panel.

[0005] The roof panel is thus from the start designed for the fasteningretention of roof rails for instance, and designed thusly in regionsthat enable the roof load to be introduced into and through the anglesheet into the frame side rails of the roof frame.

[0006] The invention accordingly and basically consists of providing,for a vehicle roof, a roof panel with angle sheets integrated thereonwhose open legs are to be fastened to the frame side rails, andspecifically also for forming a glued joint between the roof panel andthe frame side rails of the roof frame. Two angle sheets basicallyextending across the entire length of the roof panel can be provided.Preferably short angle sheets are provided only in the regions of the A,B, and C-pillar and, if any, D-pillar. The special advantage of thismeasure according to invention is that, after the roof panel has beenglued with the frame side rails in the regions of the A, B, C andD-pillars or even glued to the vehicle body's entire roof frame, theangle sheets tightly connect the roof panel to the roof fame so that theadhesive bond between the roof panel and roof frame can't be impairedwhile the adhesive employed is hardening, even when the body is shakenduring transport on the assembly line. Another special advantage of theinvention consists of, that a roof load isn't introduced into the roofpanel, but that the angle sheets introduce it into the roof frame, whichis more stabile, and into the body's A, B, C, and D pillars inparticular.

[0007] A preferred embodiment of the invention put into practiceconsists of, that the legs of the angle sheets fastened to the frameside rails can be fastened to the frame side rails by screw connections,and that the cited legs of the angle sheets and the frame side railsfeature openings that align with each other for inserting threadedbolts, and that the frame side rails feature extruded holes, weld nuts,or insert nuts for screwing in the threaded bolts.

[0008] When there are narrow structural relationships, it advantageouslycan be provided according to a further development of the invention forthe purpose of easier assembly of the vehicle roof, that an articulationconnects the legs of the angle she ets to each other hinge-like.

[0009] To take into account an effort of car manufacturers to make moreextensive use of modular components in the future, another furtherdevelopment of the invention consists of that the roof panel, togetherwith the angle sheets arranged thereon and together with a rooflinerfastened to the roof panel, form a prefabricated assembly unit. Here theroofliner may be fitted with a roofliner covering, and/or interior trimpaneling, sun visors, inside rearview mirror, interior lighting devices,cabling, control and display units, sliding roof or sunroof and itsframework and driving elements, supporting straps, etc.

[0010] The invention will now be explained in more detail based on thedrawing. It shows

[0011]FIG. 1 a first example

[0012]FIG. 2 a second example of a vehicle roof according to invention.

[0013]FIG. 1 shows, in a longitudinal section, the side of alongitudinal edge region of a vehicle in the region of the roof and itpermits the roof panel 1 of a vehicle roof to be recognized. The otherlongitudinal edge region, which isn't illustrated, is designed as themirror image of that shown. The roof panel 1 is set off step-like at thelongitudinal edge regions and is supported by longitudinal edges 2, eachlocated on a frame side rail 3 of a roof frame that isn't illustrated indetail. A glued joint preferably exists between the longitudinal edges 2of the roof panel 1 and the frame side rails 3, of which only one isillustrated.

[0014] On the side of each longitudinal edge, the roof panel 1 carriesin permanent arrangement a leg 4 of at least one angle sheet 5 foradditional support and fastening arrangement to the frame side rails 3.The legs 4 of the angle sheets 5 are preferably glued to the roof panel1. The respective other legs 6 of the angle sheets 5 are fastened to oneof the frame side rails 3 and preferably by screw connections, asillustrated. For this, the legs 6 of the sheet angles 5 and the frameside rails 3 demonstrate openings that align with each other forinserting threaded bolts 7 and extruded holes or weld nuts or insertnuts 8 are provided on the frame side rails 3. The frame side rails 3can each consist of an external side-panel frame component 9 and areinforcing or internal side-panel frame component 10 bearing the insertnuts 8.

[0015] The angle sheets 5 can extend across basically the entire lengthof the roof panel 1. But they can also be provided only in the region ofthe A, B, and C-pillars, and, if any D-pillar, and can only be screwedwith them there.

[0016] The longitudinal edge regions of the roof panel 1 demonstrateopenings 11, which also pass through the legs 4 of the angle sheets 5abutting the roof panel 1 and which serve for inserting the fasteningbolts (not illustrated) of roof rails, roof load crossmembers 12(indicated by dashed lines) or the like. Threaded inserts, weld nuts orinsert nuts 13 for the fastening bolts are provided in the region of theopenings of the legs 4 of the angle sheets 5 that abut the roof panel 1.As can be deduced from the drawing, the angle sheets 5 introduce theroof load into the frame side rails 3, so that the roof panel 1basically remains unloaded. When the roof rail or roof load crossmembers12 are not in use, the openings 11 can be closed in the most simplemanner using a stopper 14 indicated by dashed lines.

[0017] The vehicle roof additionally features the peculiarity that theroof panel 1, together with the angle sheets 5 arranged thereon andtogether with a roofliner 15 fastened to the roof panel 1, form aprefabricated assembly unit, which is to be installed on the vehiclebody as a roof module as shown. The roof module consists of the roofpanel 1, the angle sheets 5, the roofliner 15 and an intermediate layer16 between roof panel 1 and roofliner 15.

[0018] The roof module consequently demonstrates a sandwich constructionwherein the intermediate layer 16 consists of plastic foam for example.Glued joints can be provided between roof panel 1 and intermediate layer16 on one side, as well as between the intermediate layer 16 and theroof liner 15 on the other side, wherein both physically-binding andchemically-binding adhesives can be used. A roof frame or pillar lining17 can be attached to the roof lining 15.

[0019] Although not presented in detail, the roof module may feature oneor more add-on pieces in pre-assembled arrangement. Roofliner covering,interior trim paneling, sun visors, interior lighting devices,supporting straps, etc. constitute examples.

[0020] The example of the invention depicted in FIG. 2 basicallycorresponds to that of FIG. 1 so that matching reference characters areused. The only difference, although basic, consists of the fact that anarticulation 18 connect the legs 4 and 6 of the angle sheets 5 to eachother hinge-like. The vehicle roof can thereby be assembled from aboveeven under difficult construction situations, as shown in FIG. 2.

1. Vehicle roof for a passenger car or the like with a roof panel (1),whose longitudinal edges (2) can each be fastened to a frame side rail(3) of the roof frame of the vehicle body and which, on the longitudinaledge of each side, carries a leg (4) of at least one angle sheet (5) ina permanent fitting arrangement for additional support and for afastening arrangement onto said frame side rails (3) of the roof frameand that its respective other leg (6) can be fastened to one of saidframe side rails (3) in the region of the A, B, C, and D pillar, wherebythe longitudinal edge regions of said roof panel (1) demonstrateopenings (11), which are closeable by means of stoppers and the like andwhich also pass through said legs (4) of said angle sheets (5) abuttingsaid roof panel (1) and which serve for inserting the fastening bolts ofroof rails, roof load crossmembers (12) or the like, whereby threadedinserts, weld nuts or insert nuts (13) for the screwed fastening boltsare arranged in the region of said openings (11) of said legs (4) ofsaid angle sheets (5) that abut said roof panel (1).
 2. Vehicle roofaccording to claim 1, characterized in that said legs (6) of said anglesheets (5) fastened to said frame side rails (3) can be fastened to saidframe side rails (3) by screw connections, whereby said cited legs (6)of said angle sheets (5) and said frame side rails (3) feature openingsthat align with each other for inserting threaded bolts (7), and saidframe side rails (3) feature extruded holes, weld nuts, or insert nuts(8) for screwing in said threaded bolts (7).
 3. Vehicle roof accordingto claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an articulation (18) connectssaid legs (4, 6) of said angle sheets (5) to each other hinge-like. 4.Vehicle roof according to one of the preceding claims, characterized inthat said roof panel (1), together with said angle sheets (5) arrangedthereon and together with a roofliner (15) fastened to said roof panel(1), form a prefabricated assembly unit.
 5. Vehicle roof according toclaim 4, in which said roofliner (15) is fitted with a rooflinercovering, and/or interior trim paneling, sun visors, inside rearviewmirror, interior lighting devices, cabling, control and display units,sliding roof or sunroof and its framework and driving elements,supporting straps, etc.